District oe



Feb. l11,9, 1929. I

. .,A. F. G. LucAs EVAL LUBRIcAToR 2 Sheets-Sheet Original Filed Feb.26, 1925 Feb. 19, 1929.

-A. F. G. LUCS ET AL LUBRICTOR original Filed Fen.- 1925 2 sheets-sneersisi,

Aso

Patented Feb. 19,1929.

ninna-:o i STATES ANTHONY F. G. LUCAS AND EDWARD CLEMENRKOF WASHINGTON,DISTRICT OF I CQLUM'BIA; SAID CLEMENTl ASSIGNOR TO SAID LUCAS.

LUBRICATOR.

Original application iled- February 26,1925, Serial No. 11,853.Dvdedvand this application filed october 30,1925.

Uur invention relates to lubricating appa-- ratus, especially for suchapparatus applied to the lubrication ot' automotive machines. It is theobject of our invention to attain com- 5 plete and etlicient lubricationot' every bearing with a single operator, each bearing receiving a unitquantity, or a definite number of units, of the grease as prescribed bythe lubrication chart of the manufacturer, the api plication of pressurefor forcing the lubricant into the bearing, the measuring of the same,and the feed ot' the lubricant to the point of application, all beingautomatic and controlled at said point of application.

In order to attain our objectsvwe provide a nozzle coupling adapted forconnection to the bearings of an automotive vehicle, a grease tankconnected to the nozzle by means of a hose or tube, a plunger or drivingpiston in the nozzle for forcing grease into a bearing, and meanscarried through the grease tube tor supplying pressureto the said.plunger in the nozzle, together with` means mountedon the nozzle iforcontrolling said pressure. An

i 35 incidental feature is the supply of pressure for maintainingconstant feed of the grease through the tube to the nozzle.y

rFhis application is a `division of our prior eopending application,Serial No. 11,853, L ledFebruary 26, 1925. p

Vln the drawings herewith: Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectionof a tube,nozzle' and `connected parts, embodying our invention. f y l .d

Fig. 2 is plan View of same, showing the grease and oiltanks andcompressed air tank. Fig. 3 is a sectional view of a'modied form ofvalved nozzle.

Fig. 8a is a sideview of the valve plug of Fig. 3 removed. A y Fig. 4 isa diagram showing electrica-l nozzle control `and electrical valveoperation.

Fig. 5is a sideview partly in section showing a modification employingcompressed air as the power actuating medium. v

lReferring to the drawings, and especially to Figures 1 and 2, the valve33 has a turning plug 64 ground int-o a casing 65 having nipples 66, 67,68 and 69 coupled' to the eedpipes from the `grease and oil Adrums 1-(see Fig. 2) on the one hand, and to the union 70 of the flexible hose90 on the other hand. The turning plug 64 is supposed to be turnedthrough an angle of 90 degrees by means of Serial No. 65,852.

the handle 71. `When it is turned in one di- 'rectionv as shown, thepassage 72 is opened through, so'as to permit the flow ot grease fromthe tank I .tothe union 70 and thence through the hose. Vith the plug inthis position, the through channel 73 is turned so as to communicatewith an exhaust openingin the side of the casing 65, and the'T branch74connects this exhaust with the pasin turn communicates pressure to thebody otI oil 7 7 in the inner tube of the hose, and through that bodyofoil to the piston 78, which reciprocates inthe cylinder 7 9, so as tocompress and torce out the grease 80 through the valve 81 when open, andthe coupling 82 into the fitting 83 attached to the bearing.

The coupling 82 on the hose nozzle, which is preferably fitted with atight swivel so as to permit it to be turned independently in engagingwith the itting 83 on a bearing, is the standard solid metal coupling inuse with s0- called Alemite fittings, and the valve 81 with itsconnections, as -well as the fitting 83 shown in Fig. 1 and elsewhere,are all of the standard type employed inthe Alemite system. The coupling82 issecured to the ilexible hose by means of screw threads as shown, orotherwise in any desired or suitable manner. The hose is supposed` to bemade of the usual armored Vflexible tubing, and such hose unitsareusually finished off at the endswith a solid metal ring threaded orotherwise prepared to make a tight joint with adjacent` These parts havebeen illustratedv fittings. in Fig. 1 merely as a matter ofconvenience.It will be understood that the coupling shown in Fig. 2 is the same asthat showny in section in Fig. 1 and is secured to the flexible hose inthe same way. With regard to the plunger 78, this works in a'solid metalcylinder 97 which is secured to the inner tube 77 in any suitablemanner, as for example in the manner shown in Fig. 3. Figs. 1 and 2 arediagrammatic, but it should be understood that were the mechanicaldetails put in these figures, they would appear as shown in Fig. 3 at90, 77, 97, etc.

8l is a steel ring resting on a shoulder in the interior of the tube,and 8liL is a leather washer resting upon it. 81D is a steel steinexpanding through the opening in the rings 81--81l to form a. head 81C,against which a compression spring 8le rests,i-tlie other end of whichis supported on a fixed portion of the nozzle at 812. 81(l is a leathercup washer centrally perforated, and normally forcedby the spring 8lcagainst the shoulder Sylf. The end of the steel stein 8lb protrudesthrough the central perforation in this cup, being shouldered and theend being slotted through the shoulder to permit the ready flow ofgrease from the chamber 8l into the chamber 82, when the valve 8l isopen and the plunger is forced forward to put pressure ou the grease inthe chamber' 80d.

No claim is made herein to this construction of the nozzle with itsvalves and springs, except in combination with the plunger 78 and theother mechanism, as presently pointed out.

Figs. 3 and 3a show a modified form of' nozzle, using the principle of atight valve closure at the end of the nozzle, so as to cut off all flowof grease inside the end of the nozzle at the point of connection with afitting 83. By this means. leakage is absolutely7 avoided1 and theoperation of the system is greatly improved. The hose pipe 9() isprovided with a nozzle 91 which may have a swivel92 at the end, and thenozzle isprovided with a transverse turning plug 93 preferably groundinto its seat. This turning plug is preferably somewhat tapered, so thatit can be drawn or thrust into a tight fit; and it has a channel 94through it, two cam slots 95 cut in one side, and a channel 96 cut inthe other. T he tube 90 is coupled to the nozzle by means of a screwthreaded joint 90, and the inner tube 77 is similarly coupled to a shortinner tube or cylinder 97 permanently fixed within the nozzle, andcontaining the piston 78.

The fitting 83 in this case, which is of the usual Alemite type, isreceived in the end of the nozzle, so that its cross pins 83a fall intothe bayonet slots 83b and its end presses against a washer 98, formedgin part of a `comrn'essible material such as leather and in part of `ametal washer or ring 98"L having projections 98b formed up on oppositesides of the opening 98C. so as to register with the cam slots 95 in theturning plug 93, as indicated bydotted lines in Fig. 3. 4The plug inthis figure is shown in closed position with its channel 94 across thenozzle, and the front opening entirely closed at the solid part of theplug. ln this position of the plug, the projections 98b on the washerlie in the deepest parts of the cani slots 95, consequentl;v there is nopressure exerted on the washer, or

on the end of the fitting 83, and the swivel end of the nozzle can beturned thereon to disengage the bayonet slots83b from the pins 8 3", andpermit the withdrawal of the nozzle. In attaching 4the hose to `abearing the reverse procedure is followed. The swivel end is applied tothe fitting 83, and after the pins 83?L are seated in the ends of thebayonet slots 83h, the valve 93 is turned so as to throw the opening` orchannel 94 into line with the axis of the piston 7 8, whereupon the highpart of the slotted cam 95 will come under the projections 98b on thewasher 98, and will force the same to the left against the end of thefitting, compressing the leather `portion 98c and at the same timeforcing the pins 83a into firm engagement with the locking depression inthe ends of the bayonet slots, so that the nozzle cannot be removed fromthe .fitting while the channel 94 is opened.

The method of supplying the grease through the hose to the fitting withthis arrangement is as follows: W' ith the valve 93 in the positionshown in Fig. 3, the valve 64 in Fig. l should be also as shown therein,that is to say, with the grease passage 72 open and the oil vent 73open. The result is that grease under pressure from the tank In (seeFig. 2) is forced through the nipple 66, passage 72 and the nipple 67,coupling 70 and the hose 90, (all as shown in Fig. l) to the nozzle inFig. 3, through the openings 90b therein, and through the port orchannel 96 in the valve to the front end of the plunger Aor piston 8,which being thus exposed to pressure `at one end only, will be forcedback, forcing before it `the oil in the inner tube 77, also forcing backthe plunger 76 and forcing the oil 7 5 through the passage 74 and thepoit 73 into the exhaust receiver. The piston 78 moves back until it hasreached the limit of y the nipple 69, and to cut off the passage `72so.` as to prevent any flow of grease therethrough. v(the channel 94being open through from the cylinder 97 to the opening 98C in the washer98) oil under pressure from the tank I in Fig.` 2 flows through the`nipple 68 to the passage 73 to the nipple 69 to `force forward theplunger 76, which yin turn exerts pressure on the oil in the tube 77 andthereby forces forward `the plunger 78, (Fig. 3) which in turn forcesthe grease in the cylin der 97 through the `channel 94 to the opening98c and past the spring pressed ball valve into the fitting. It shouldbe understood that after the first shot, the passage 94 is always fullof grease, which of course is counted as a With the parts in thisposition,

Y the shots themselves.

part of the unit which is injected each time by the action of theplunger or piston 78.

The apparatus and its operation thus described are characterized by onefeature to which particular attention is directed, viz: that of havingthe grease injected into a bearing by pressure applied at the bearing,and not at the other end of the tube. It is very diiiicult to passgrease through a tube of any length under pressure, as heretoforepointed out, unless time enough is permitted. In our device we permitthe grease to pass in the intervals between shots, which are usually 5or 10 times as long as the times consumed in The use of oil as apropelling pressure or transmitting medium instead of heavy grease webelieve to be novel and original with us and shall claim the sameaccordingly, as well as the other features pointed out.

In describing Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 5 a manually operated turning plug orvalve 64 has been assumed for controlling the supply of grease as wellas the pressure employed at the nozzle for injecting the same into thebearings. In actual operation this valve is automatic, with an electricmotor, gearing and reversing switch controlling the same. In Fig. 4 wehave shown the detail of this automatic control. The figure is a diagramwith the parts in plan so that the valve itself 64, is indicated indotted lines and only the upper nipple 67 is seen. On the stem 33 of thevalve instead of the handle 71 is a worm gear 71a with which meshes aworm 71b on the shaft m of a motor M having field and armature windingsm-m2 respectively. A reversing switch S is pivoted at s arid providedwith anchor arms s-s2 acted upon alternately by a cam projection 71cconnected with the gearwheel 71a and withthe stem of the yvalve 33. Inone position the reversing switch connects the field and armaturewindings of the motor for direct drive, and in the other position itconnects them for reverse drive, according to the position of the valve.The actual movement of the motor and of the valve is controlled by meansof a relay R which has armature contacts r-r, included in series withthe contacts of the reversing switch S. Thus, to turn the valve stem 33in one direction requires reversing switch S to be in one posi- Y tionand the relay R to be energized or deenergized so as to close thecircuit with the switch in that position. The relay R has its windingsincluded in a circuit 100 with the battery 1001o and switch contacts100s which are closed and opened in the closing and opening` of thenozzle valve 93. Thus the operator by opening and closing the valve 93may control the opening and closing of the pressure and supply valve64:. As shown, the valve stem turns through 90 degrees, but of coursethis may be varied according to the necessities of the case. The motor Mis shown as a series motor, but this also may be changed, the showingthus adopted being merely for convenience and not as a matter oflimitation.

Assuming the nozzle valve 93 to be open, and other parts in the positionshown in Fig. 4, and referring to Figs. 1 and 3 for the detail,'thepressure of oil against the piston 7 6 will force the piston 78 forwardin the nozzle, and thereby inject one unit of grease into the bearing towhich the nozzle is connected. The operator then turns the valve 93 sothe handle lies across the nozzle, which closes the valve as shown inFig. 3, and also breaks the circuit 100 at the contacts 100s. The relayR thereupon lets go its armature, and the contacts r-r fall back so asto close the reverse drive motor circuit. It should be remarked inpassing that current is supplied for the motor from any suitable sourceof supply in* dicated in the diagram as a generator G. As the valvestein 33 turns, the cam projection 71c turns with it and when it hastraveled throughv 90 degrees it strikes the end of the anchor arm s2 andthrows over the reversing switch S, which opens the motor circuit andleaves the same in position to be closed for direct drive when the relayR is again energized. The parts of the valve 65 are now in the positionshown in Fig. 1, with the nozzle valve in the position shown in Fig. 3.Grease will then feed through the nipple 67 and the hose 90, through thechannels 90 and the port 96 in the valve 93 forcing back the piston 78and filling the cylinder with a fresh charge. The retrograde movement ofthe piston and its' companion piston 76 Jsee Fig. 1)' is permitted bythe opening o the passage 73 to exhaust the oil behind the piston 76,the pressure nipple 68 being at the same time cut oif.

Thus the grease has time to pass down through the hose 90 and fill thecylinder 79 between shots.

We claim:

1. In a lubricating system for automobiles and the like, a source ofsupplyof lubricant, discharge means connected with said source of supplyand including a hose and a nozzle therefor adapted to be applieddirectly to a bearing, a source of pressure connected to said hose and apressure actuated member within the said nozzle actuated by the pressureand adapted to exert pressure on the lubricant at the said nozzlewhereby the same will be forced therefrom into the bearing, said hosemember being equipped with a valvecontrolling the pressure actuatedmember, and said valve having openings or ports for allowing thepressure medium to act upon the pressure member and the lubricant to b efed thro the hose in alternation whereby the latter may be forced intothe bearing in predetermined units.

2. In a lubricating system for automo biles and the like, a closedchamber contain-` ing a source of supply of lubricant, discharge meansfor said lubricant outside of said chamber connected with the source ofsupply and including a hose and a. nozzle therefor adapted to be applieddirectly to a bearing, a source of pressure connected to `said hose anda pressure actuated member within the said nozzle actuated by thepressure and adapted to exert pressure on the lubricant at the saidnozzle whereby the Asame will be forced therefrom into the bearing, saidhose member being equipped with a valve controlling the pressureactuated member and said valve having openings or ports for allowing thepressure medium to act upon the pressure member and the lubricant to beted into the hose in alternation whereby the latter may be `forced intothe bearing in predetermined units.

3. Lubricating apparatus comprising a hose member with a nozzle at theend thereoi1 adapted to be applied to a be ring, a chamber in saidnozzle, a plunger or piston in said chamber, a connection from saidchamber through said hose to a supply of lubricant, a second connectionfrom said chamber leading to a source of pressure supply and a valvemember on said hose having means to control both the pressure medium andthe supply ot lubricant, the said Valve and the pressure port and thelubricant port in said chamber being so related that with the Valve inone position said plunger or piston will be forced back and thelubricant drawn in in front of it for charging, while with the valve inthe other position the pressure medium will act directly on the plungerso as to 'force the charge of lubricant out of the nozzle into thebearing inra predetermined amount.

4. An apparatus described in claim 3 in which the Valve member isprovided with openings or ports such as to alternately c0nneet thesources of pressure and lubricant supply with the hose member when theValve is turned to different positions, so as to conmoese@ trol theactions of the pressure medium and the lubricant and the resultantdischarge of the latter.

5. An apparatus as described in claim 3 V in which an inner tube isarranged in said hose member leading from a point near the nozzle and tothe pressure supply passage of the valve, the said plunger beingarranged within said inner tube near the nozzle end, and a secondplunger' arranged therein near the Valve member, a. body of oilseparating the plungers and allowing communication therebetween wherebythey will act in unison passing back and forth a predetermined distancein the tube, a pipe member leading from the lubricant passage of thevalve and connecting the same with the outer passage oi said hose, and achamber at the nozzle and connecting` the two passages of the hose so asto allow the lubricant in passing through the hose to force the plungersback the prede termined distance in the tube7 whereby the lubricantniaybe discharged in predetermined units by the turning of the valve.

5. An apparatus as described in claim 3 in which an inner tube isarranged in said hose member leading from a point near the nozzle to thepressure supply passage of the valve, the said plunger member beingarranged to pass back and 'forth a predetermined distance within thesame, a pipe mem ber leading from the lubricant passage of the valve andconnecting the same with the lubricant passage of said hose, and achamber at the nozzle end connecting the two passages or' the hose so asto allow the lubricant in passing through the hose to `torce the plungerback the predetermined distance in the tube, whereby the lubricant maybe dis! charged in predetermined units by the operation of the valve.

In testimony whereof we hereunto affix our signatures.

ANTHONY F. G. LUCAS. EDVARD E. CLEMENT.

